Govt's Poor Treatment Of Health Prompts Resignation

The resignation of an Auckland District Health Board member because he's so disgusted at the Government's lack of funding and support to boards shows how badly the Government is misreading the importance of health services, National's Health spokesperson Roger Sowry said today.

"This is the second resignation from the board this year over health funding and it illustrates the absolute frustration and difficulties boards are having in dealing with a Government intent on forcing boards to cut health services or run up deficits.

"The Government needs to act urgently to stop its reformed system from collapsing, and take responsibility for funding troubles affecting boards throughout the country.

"Last week the same board's chairman and chief executive went public with their concerns about lack of funding. Defying the Minister they said they wouldn't be gagged from telling the public exactly how badly funding cuts will affect services.

"This resignation is the sad result of the Government refusing to take responsibility for health and at the same time trying to keep what's really going on from the public," Mr Sowry said.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>